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Tools for collaboration

Getting started

Collaboration tools, including those incorporating video and audio at a distance, can fit uses for instruction, advising, research, outreach, and administration. Ready access is provided for VT Google Apps for Education, Unified Communications, WebEx, Skype for Business, and individual use of SharePoint Online.

VT Google Apps for Education including features beyond email such as “Drive,” space to store and give others permission to view materials.

Conference calls are available through your Unified Communications (Avaya) phone. The common 9611g model supports voice conferencing with up to five other people, regardless of whether they are internal to Virginia Tech. For instructions, check
“Voice/Telephone Services” on www.cns.vt.edu.

WebEx is provided by Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies at no cost to faculty and staff to host sessions. Students can participate at no charge from their computer or mobile device.

Skype for Business is available at no cost for faculty, staff and sponsored users at Virginia Tech. Skype for Business is part of the cloud-based Office 365 services. Skype for Business enables a number of communications capabilities including instant messaging; presence awareness; audio, video, and web conferencing; scheduling; and screen sharing and remote desktop capabilities.

Microsoft SharePoint Online is a cloud-based service for collaboration. A user-focused site is one of the two types of SharePoint Online services offered at the university. Follow the directions at the VT Office 365 page.

Google Administrative email accounts (GAE accounts) can help a group collaborate. Each GAE account can have its own calendar and drive space. To apply, send a request to 4Help (www.4Help.vt.edu).

More information

Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies offers multimedia production. The team creates videos in the studio, archives classes and campus events, and transfers video to different formats. This group can also provide live and on-demand streaming media services to support classes, projects, and special events. Request their services online.

For information technology professionals

Departmental uses of Microsoft SharePoint Online requires a memorandum of understanding between Information Technology and the department. The purpose of the MOU is to ensure that the overall space allotted to SharePoint Online is organized in ways that benefit each organization as well as the university overall. See the “departmental use” instructions.